passmore



(No Model.)

0. L. PASSMORE.

SHOE STRETUHER.

Patented Oct. 12,1897.

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j UNITED STATES? PAT NT fOFFICE.

CHARLES L. PASSMORE, OF FULTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWIN L. PASSMORE, OF SAME PLACE.

-SHOE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 591,492, dated October 12, 1897. Application filed October 14, 1896. Seria1No. 608,849. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. PASSMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fulton, in the countyof Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Stretchers; and

' I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in shoe-stretchers, and pertains more especially to the provision of a novel mech anism by which the leather of shoes, boots, or other leather products may be locally stretched without afiectin g the residue thereof. This I accomplish by the mutual action of two members,-one of which has an interior opening, into which the other member may be forced to any desired degree. I

The purpose of my invention in its main application is to afford means for stretching footwear over the locality of a bunion or corn, so as to relieve or preclude pressure upon such sensitive parts.

I accomplish the above object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of an instrument I provided with my invention, shown in an open position. Fig. 2 is the same shown in a closed position. Fig. 3 is a modification of the form and a detail of the opposing operative parts.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a lever intermediately pivoted. at O to the companion lever B, near the central portion of the latter. On the forward end of the lever A there is formed a ring or circular compressing-faceE, provided with a central opening E, and the forward end of the lever B is formed into a knob F, projected toward and adapted to be forced into or through the opening E in the opposing face I). These parts can be made. of any'desired size, and in fact a diversity of sizes will be found convenient, if not necessary, in practical use.

The rear ends of the levers A and B are adapted to be coincidently grasped in the hand of theoperator and forced toward each other, as in the case of ordinary pincers. The great leverage exerted thereby causes the knob F to locally stretch the leather interposed between it and the opposing face D.

In the operation of my invention the forward end of the lever B is thrust into the shoe or boot with the knob F upward. The opposing face D is then closed down upon the interposed leather oppositely to the knob F and serves to hold against the further pressure of the knob F the leather directly surrounding the latter, and thus limits the operation of stretching to the precise locality where it is needed. The face D and the opening E therein may be round, oblong, or any other desired configuration, and the knob F be formed or shaped conformably thereto. The opening E is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the knob F, so as to afford space for the entrance of the leather within said opening and around said knob in the process of stretching as aforesaid.

As the spirit and main feature of my invention is the employment of an open member, as D, to rest upon one side of the leather and a compressing -knob, as F, adapted to force the interposed leather in a stretched condition into said opening, it is obvious that this operation may be performed by forcing mechanism different from that shown in the accompanying drawings. Therefore I do not limit myself to the mode shown of coacting the said knob and opposing face D shown and heretofore described in this application.

The forcing of the knob F into the opening E can be accomplished by screw-power as well, but perhaps not as conveniently, as by lever power, and I therefore desire to cover and claim all modes of locally stretching leather in boots and shoes by means of a compressing-knob on one side of the leather and a coacting opening on the other side thereof, substantially as shown. The operative ends of the levers A andB can be formed into sockets to receive knobs F and faces D of different sizes and shapes.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a shoe or other stretcher, the combination of a pair of pivoted members provided respectively with a female member or ring and a male member or plunger.

2. In a leather-stretcher, the combination of a face D provided with a bottomless opening E said face being adapted to be placed on one side of the leather, and a knob F of smaller diameter than the opening E adapted to be placed on the opposite side of said leather, and to be forced into said opening or through it, carrying said leather with it, and thereby locally stretching the latter, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

3. In a leather-stretcher, the combination, of a pair of levers pivotally secured together,

one end of one of which is provided with a ring and the corresponding end of the other one is provided with a knob of less size than the ring and adapted to be passed entirely through the same, whereby the amount of pressure to be applied to the material may be varied, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a leather-stretcher, the combination, with a pair of levers pivotally secured together near one end, of a ring detachably secured to one end of one of the levers, and a knob detachably secured to the corresponding end of the other one, said knob being of a less size than the diameter of the ring and adapted to be passed entirely through the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES L. PASSMORE.

ISABELLE MANAHAN, JOHN G. MANAHAN. 

